My Sister Had Cancer

Eleven-year-old Jeff explains what happened when "My Sister Had Cancer." (Reprinted with permission from CCCF Canada CONTACT newsletter Vol. XVI No. 2 Spring 1994.)

My sister Jamie got cancer when she was 23 months old. I was 8, and my two other sisters were 6 and 4.

My sisters and I were scared that my sister was going to die. We weren't able to go to public places and also weren't allowed to have friends in my house. We missed a lot of school when there was chicken pox in our school. I got teased in school sometimes because my sister had no hair. Once an older kid called my sister a freak. My mom was sad most of the time. It was very hard.

We are all pleased that Jamie is doing well, and our lives are getting back to normal. It was an experience I'll never forget, and I hope it has made me a stronger person.